2017 BMW 7 Series

Vehicle Highlights

What You Will Like

The BMW 7-Series starts at about $83,000, competing against the largest and most luxurious European sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Audi A7. The 7-Series is nearly as nice as similar-sized offerings from Bentley and Rolls-Royce, without those nameplates' premium prices. The 7-Series offers a much more understated appearance as well. Though obviously not inexpensive, the 2017 BMW 7-Series includes impressive levels of technology, power and space. There are no tricks or gimmicks here, the BMW 7-Series looks and feels like a $100,000 vehicle in every single way.

What's New For 2017

Following an extensive redesign for 2016, the BMW 7-Series carries over into 2017 with only a few changes. Among them, BMW's Display Key, with touchscreen on the fob, is now standard, M Sport brakes are now a standalone option, and remote controlled parking is available. The biggest news is the debut of the 740e xDrive, a new all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid powered by a 2.0L twin-turbocharged inline-four that makes 255 horsepower and is mated to a 111-horsepower eDrive electric motor. Total output is rated at 322 horsepower. The 740e starts at $90,095. Also new this year is the Alpina B7 xDrive, a high-performance variant rated at 600 horsepower with a claimed 0-60 mph time of just 3.6 seconds. It is priced at $137,995.

Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 Years / 50,000 Miles

Drivetrain Warranty: 4 Years / 50,000 Miles

Roadside Assistance: 4 Years / Unlimited Miles

Hybrid Component: 8 Years / 100,000 Miles

A vehicle's warranty can significant impact your maintenance costs after you drive off the dealer's lot, and it's important to understand the different parts. Typically, a new car warranty includes a Basic warranty, which covers everything except the wear items such as brakes and tires; and a Drivetrain warranty, that covers all the parts that make the car move, such as the engine and transmission

Compare the 2017 BMW 7 Series

Loading Comparison...

Introduction

The BMW 7 Series is in its sixth generation, after a technological leap for 2016, including engineering learned from the i electric car. Today’s 7 Series uses carbon fiber in the chassis, saving 90 pounds. Aluminum doors, trunk lid and suspension help bring the balance to a perfect 50/50, front/rear weight distribution. That’s saying a lot, for a big car, and the handling of the BMW 740i backs it up.

For 2017, the BMW 740i is available with all-wheel drive. Also new is the 2017 BMW M760i xDrive with a twin-turbo V12 making 600 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque BMW claims can blast to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds. Also new for 2017: the Alpina B7 xDrive with Integral Active Steering that combines variable ratio electric steering system at the front axle with active steering on the rear axle, while blasting to 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds.

Most popular is the BMW 740i, which uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 making 320 horsepower, a sweet engine. The 750i packs a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 making 445 horsepower, mated to a silky 8-speed automatic transmission, pulling zero to sixty in 4.3 seconds.

The technological leap this latest-generation BMW 7 Series made was mostly in electronic chassis control. The steering, throttle, suspension and transmission can be set in three modes, Sport, Comfort and Comfort Plus settings. On all models, a complex system called Active Comfort Drive with Road Preview adds anticipatory functions to the active chassis with air suspension, while the Integral Active Steering (variable-ratio rear-wheel steering) now comes with all-wheel drive. The automatic transmission downshifts on its own, based on what the navigation system tells the transmission about the road ahead, for example a hill. We wonder why anyone would want their car to do this. We’re not sure we want our transmission shifting based on a nav system that’s lost half the time.

The 7 Series hasn’t been crash-tested because it’s a low-volume product. Standard safety equipment is bountiful, from active headlamps to active headrests to rearview camera. Optional safety equipment includes everything night vision to a watchdog sensor that flashes a coffee cup if it sees you getting tired.

Lineup

Options include the Rear Executive Lounge Seating Package with a sliding front passenger seat, footrest, rear entertainment with two 10-inch screens, a fold-out table, Touch Command Tablet enabling the passenger to control all his or her own creature comforts including web surfing. The Luxury Rear Seating Package includes heated and ventilated rear seats, massage, and a Vitality Program.

Walkaround

The styling of this generation of 7 Series turns BMW back toward classic, after more than a decade of pushing boundaries with wedges and swirls. There’s a formal profile, lots of glass, and clean sheetmetal. The nose is fairly blunt, with a proud kidney grille that actively manages airflow, behind the scenes. Beautiful beltline from hood to taillamps. Chiseled brightwork runs low along the sides, lifting the car.

Interior

If BMW exteriors are no longer pushing boundaries, the interiors are, by maximizing and exaggerating BMW design themes, using a lot of the leader of the future, the i8. The instrument panel is like a horizontal shelf, its formality enforced by satin-metallic brightwork on the knobs, many of which change temperatures for the comfort of your fingertips. It might be called retro-futurism. You’ll want to linger there.

The corners are pushed outward to make more space in the cabin, and the rear is limo-like, luxurious for two (who might be optionally ventilated and massaged), but room for three. Superb front seats hit the sweet spot between comfort during hours in the saddle, and support in the twisties.

The interior wood and diamond-stitched leather is the highest quality, as expected from BMW. Heated armrests, front and rear. Ambient carpet lighting standard. Fragrance is available, under a panoramic LED roof.

Although late to the theater, BMW does touchscreen now, to the max. The iDrive 5.0 uses a 12.3-inch landscape-oriented screen. Still, some people don’t like all those finger-smudges a touchscreen collects. So on the 7 Series there is also the familiar iDrive controller, now with a handwriting touchpad (also steering-wheel controls and voice recognition).

More futuristically, iDrive also now has Gesture Control. There’s a 3D sensor in the iDrive knob, and you just flash the sensor one of five hand signals, to get the sound system volume raised or lowered, answer or don’t answer the phone, or browse a 360-degree of the cabin. The system is a bit slow.

The Bowers & Wilkins surround sound is certainly not dull, with 1400 watts and 16 speakers. Nor is the head-up display. The standard Adaptive Headlamps don’t just turn with the car, they consider speed, steering angle and yaw.

Driving Impressions

For 2016, two new engines join the existing 3.0-liter inline-6, and 4.4-liter V8. The sexy V12 comes back to BMW, as a 600-horsepower twin turbo in M760i xDrive.

The 8-speed automatic transmission is linked to navigation data, making the shift characteristics change with curves and terrain. To save fuel, it coasts at speeds up to 100 miles per hour. Also to save fuel, automatic start-stop turns off the engine when the car stops, then back on again when it’s time to move.

The 7 Series is sporty and comfortable to drive. With double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspension, with active air dampers, it can be set for firm or comfortable; the ride height changes with the settings.

The separate and standard Driving Dynamics Control sets the steering, throttle, shock absorbers and transmission, to three modes: Sport, Comfort and Comfort Plus.

In Sport mode, the active anti-roll bars keep the 740i fairly flat in fast corners, and help this car feel unlike any 4600-pound sedan you’ve ever driven. The power is responsive, the light steering is made heftier and quicker (some might think too quick), and there’s road feel without rigidity, although sharp bumps get through the low-profile tires. The Comfort mode backs off on the aggression and smoothes out the ride, while Comfort Plus adds float.

Summary

The BMW 740i is our choice among the 7 Series for its sweet inline-6-cylinder engine. That 50/50 balance is special, and makes the handling so. The cabin is way roomy, with elegant wood and leather. The lines are gorgeous. It’s expensive.

Sam Moses contributed to this report, with staff reports from The Car Connection.

Free Select

Updating...

About These Prices

As you know, pricing cars is particularly complicated. One of our duties at CarQuotes.com is to help our customers comprehend this process better.

Three important prices we may show on a particular vehicle

CarQuotes.com Estimated Target Price is for research purposes only. It reflects a typical, negotiated price (before taxes and other customary fees and charges, such as dealer documentation fees, tire and battery disposal fees, license and registration, and where applicable, finance charges) generally found for the vehicle that you selected. The Estimated Target Price is NOT a price quote from CarQuotes.com or any other dealer. If you request a price quote from a dealer via CarQuotes.com displaying an estimated target price, your price may differ.

Invoice is commonly known as the published amount that the dealer paid the manufacturer for the vehicle. This may or may not represent a close relation to the dealer’s actual cost, but can be beneficial as a benchmark. This figure is available on many other web sites however CarQuotes.com adds an estimate of local and regional fees from manufacturer to the dealers to this price, which makes it very close to the actual invoice amount for cars at your local dealer.

MSRP is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. This is a proposed price only. For most vehicles, the CarQuotes.com price is below this amount. Some high demand cars may be priced over this amount.

Estimated Target Price

The CarQuotes.com Target Price is to be used as a general guide that reflects a typical, market price (before taxes and other customary fees and charges) generally found for the vehicle that you selected. This price is based on our research and estimates of supply and demand in the marketplace. There are many factors that go into the final price of a particular vehicle including local supply and demand. Your final price may differ.

CarQuotes.com Estimated Target Prices include

The ’base’ price of the vehicle
All options that you select
Base Destination Charges — this is a charge that is added to the base price for every vehicle
Any related Estimated Manufacture to Consumer Cash Rebates. Note: rebates are subject to change at any time. Please make sure to confirm any consumer Cash rebates with your dealer representative at the time of purchase.

CarQuotes.com Estimated price(s) do NOT include any of the following:

Local taxes, license fees and other local fees, such as dealer documentation fees, tire and battery disposal fees, and where applicable, finance charges — these fees are also excluded from Dealer Invoice and MSRP and would be excluded from most advertisements you might see.
Random ’special qualification’ rebates — i.e., for new college grads only; for customers trading in a specific type of car. Ask your dealer Representative for more information on ’special qualification’ rebates.

CarQuotes Estimated Dealer Price

The Estimated CarQuotes Dealer Price is an estimate of the pricing presented to CarQuotes members from CarQuotes Authorized Dealers in your area, and is calculated by subtracting an estimated savings value from the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price ("MSRP") as well as a value that relates to invoice for the "ideal vehicle" you configured. Dealer documentation, administrative or similar processing fees are not included in the price estimate. Any vehicle configured on the CarQuotes website is an "ideal vehicle" and may not exist at a CarQuotes Authorized Dealer or any other partner dealer. Each Dealer attempts to match a member’s vehicle preferences with the best possible selection from current, in-stock inventory.

Estimated Savings

The Estimated Savings represents the estimated amount of savings off of MSRP available to you from CarQuotes Dealers for a vehicle consistent with your configured preferences plus any customer incentives currently available. This is also true when it comes to CarQuotes estimated target prices. Your actual savings will depend on several factors including market conditions, the style of vehicle you select, installed options, dealer coverage, and applicable manufacturer incentives. Each dealer sets its own pricing.

In most cases, you must choose between these programs OR a customer rebate or a special manufacturer-to-dealer incentive that may or may not already be included in your CarQuotes.com Target Price. So, your final price may go up if you take advantage of special manufacturer financing. Credit Union members should contact their Credit Union loan department to determine what type of loan and financing options are right for you.

Please note that CarQuotes.com strives to include identified manufacturer incentives within the CarQuotes.com Target Price. CarQuotes.com does not administer these programs, which are subject to and often change without notice. Eligibility for these programs is subject to verification by a licensed auto dealer.

Ask your dealer representative for complete manufacturer program details for your area, and how participation in these programs will affect your price.

Base Vehicle

The base vehicle is the vehicle before any optional equipment or destination fees have been added. All of the standard features are included in the base vehicle.

Options

This is the total charge for all optional equipment included in the configuration of your virtual vehicle. The Options charge varies depending on whether it is calculated based on the Factory Invoice or MSRP. Options are not included in the base vehicle price and are not considered standard features.

Regional Fees

A Regional Fee is the fee a manufacturer charges a dealer to advertise and promote the vehicle in the dealer’s market. CarQuotes also includes estimated manufacturer preparation charges (manufacturer charges to the dealer to cover any work done on the car prior to delivering it to the dealership) and fuel charges (the charge for the fuel in the tank when the buyer purchases the vehicle) in this total. CarQuotes attempts to include regional ad fees in its Factory Invoice calculations; other sites at times do not.

Destination Fees

These are the amounts that manufacturers charge to deliver a vehicle from the factory to the dealership.

Customer Incentives

Customer incentives are also commonly known as customer cash or bonus incentives. These incentives are offered by manufacturers as a way of enticing buyers into purchasing a vehicle.

Note: Dealer Invoice amount might not be the amount that the dealer paid to the manufacturer

Dealer Invoice price may or may not bear close relation to a dealer’s actual cost for the vehicle. In some cases, a cost for a vehicle may be significantly less than the invoice price originally paid for the vehicle. Any difference between invoice price and the dealer’s final cost may be caused by many factors including factory refunds, rebates, allowances, or incentives which the manufacturer or distributor may provide to the dealer.